Tomorrow, on the 72nd Anniversary of D-day, our community will cheer on four of its World War II veterans who are being escorted to Washington D.C. on an Honor Flight. We heard from Sheriff Keith Cain that the numbers on the flights are dwindling as we lose more and more of our own who served in World War II.
The send off for our honorees begins at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Sportscenter. They return on Wednesday to Owensboro Christian Church, where there will be a reception. All are welcomed — in fact, all are encouraged to attend. The children are out of school, so what a perfect way to connect their history with real people.
The Honor Flight is another heartfelt way to honor so many that have paid such a price for our freedom and our great nation. Our community celebrates Memorial Day weekend with touching tributes for the men and women who died to protect our liberties and way of life. We do this remembering the loved ones whom they have left behind, loved ones who must live every moment of every day with the loss of their child, their spouse, their parent or their sibling. The loss is a constant. The survivor’s every day is a sacrifice for each of us. To these gold star family members, our hearts ache of love and gratitude.
The Memorial Day service at the Sportscenter was one my dad and I attended nearly every year, even when he was sick. Dad was proud Marine and a proud American. He served three tours in Vietnam. He attended the service for his Vietnam brothers who did not come home; for the World War II and Korean veterans in his family and his community and for the younger generation of veterans. Through the years, we heard loved ones names called aloud to commemorate the veterans who died the previous year. We would hold hands and he would give a squeeze when one of our loved ones was read.
By Candance Brake President and CEO Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce